7:21 PM, July 15, 2014

By Brian Manzullo

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

It’s a little too early to suggest Michigan State running back commit Larry (L.J.) Scott will be the next Adrian Peterson.

But his high school coach, Brian Hoffman of Hubbard High in Northeast Ohio, would agree that Scott’s running style resembles that of the star Minnesota Vikings tailback.

“I’d say that’s pretty accurate,” Hoffman said on “The Drive With Jack Ebling” (WVFN-AM in Lansing). “Obviously, when you’re talking about Adrian Peterson, you’re talking about cream of the crop. Larry is still young, but he runs with violence. He’ll run you over. He’s not going to skate to the sidelines.

“That’s been his style since his freshman year. He’s only gotten bigger and stronger the past two years.”

Scott (6-1, 215 pounds) is rated the No. 6 running back prospect in the Class of 2015 and the No. 65 player in the nation on Rivals.com. He rushed for nearly 1,700 yards as a junior while sharing carries with George Hill, an OSU commitment for 2016.

“In today’s day in age, he’s an every-down back,” Hoffman said of Scott, who verbally committed to MSU last week. “He blocks well. We move him around, put him in the slot position. He’s got great hands, catches the ball, runs great routes. He’s a north-south runner with breakaway speeds.”

Hoffman also praised Spartans senior safety Kurtis Drummond, a Hubbard High alum who connected with Scott often during his recruitment.

“(Drummond’s) grown so much as a football player from when I had him in high school,” Hoffman said. “There were moments where you thought he was going to be a special player, but he really took off when he went to Michigan State.

“When I watch him on the TV now, I’m like, “Wow, who is that guy?”Not that he didn’t do well for us, but he has really turned himself into a great football player and we’re proud of him.”

Basketball note: Adreian Payne had 13 points and seven rebounds in the Hawks’ 91-76 loss to the Trail Blazers on Tuesday in summer-league play in Las Vegas. Keith Appling made his summer-league debut for the Blazers, playing six minutes and hitting his only shot — a three-pointer.